Inside Stories 5 – Creative Courses to improve wellbeing

by Caroline Barnes

Course tutor Claire Fowler

Inside Stories 5 – creative courses to improve wellbeing are delivered in partnership with the Recovery and Wellbeing Academy.   

SINGING FOR WELLBEING

Singing for Well-Being is suitable for people looking to find coping strategies and improve mental well-being.

The next course consists of 12 weeks of FREE singing workshops led by experienced choir leader Claire Fowler. These small group sessions will help to boost your mood as you sing to familiar songs together. This choir is suitable for beginners and you don’t need to be a brilliant singer just the willingness to have a go!

There is lots of evidence that singing together can help with low mood, anxiety and depression. There will be a chance to socialise afterwards and support each other over refreshments.

Singing for wellbeing is a partnership between the SYDNI Centre and Arts Uplift CIC

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain a better understanding about how singing can benefit your well-being.
• Feel more confident about singing in a group and learn breathing and singing techniques to help you.
• To meet new people and have peer to peer support.

Aimed at: ​ Adults across Warwickshire & Coventry looking to find creative coping strategies that can improve mental wellbeing.

Venue

Life Community Church, Charlotte Street, Leamington Spa, CV31 3EB

Dates

Tuesdays 7-8.30pm from 1 October 2024

• 1,15,22,29 October
• 5,12,19,26 November
• 3, 9,10,17 December
• Sharing performance 9 December

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CREATIVE WRITING FOR WELLBEING

Join our FREE adult creative writing workshops led by Tristan Jackson-Pate. Discover your voice, craft compelling stories, and connect with others in a supportive community. Open to Coventry and Warwickshire residents who are looking to find coping strategies and improve mental well-being.

Course Now Fully Booked – please add yourself to the waiting list by emailing Jenny at jenny@artsuplift.co.uk

COURSE DETAILS 

Mondays Starting 5 August to 9 December

Online sessions: Mondays 7-8.30pm – 5 August, 2 September, 7 October, 4 November.

In person (Leamington Spa) 7-9pm – 25 November, 2 December, 9 December 

This creative writing group, led by writer and theatre maker Tristan Jackson-Pate alongside an Arts Uplift volunteer will focus on the ways we craft stories, in a relaxed online group setting. Participants can access the exercises in a variety of ways and enjoy the support of the group as they develop their ideas. Though sessions will primarily look at dramatic writing for theatre or film, the exercises and discussions had will be relevant to all forms of storytelling, whether you want to write a novel, or a poetry collection. We will cover:

• Where stories come from
• Story structure
• Character creation
• Finding the meaning
• Exploring form
• Plotting
• Redrafting

And of course, how not to become blocked in your creativity! The aim is to provide chances to learn, create, and collaborate, in an inclusive, no pressure environment.

There will be the opportunity to write and read out your work (if you want to) in a friendly and supportive environment. No prior skills needed. Just bring something to write with and something to write on. After 10 weeks your work will form part of a writing e-book if you want to be included.

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain a better understanding about how creative writing can benefit your well-being.
• Feel more confident about creative writing and learn different techniques that can be used to improve your well-being
• To meet new people and have peer to peer support

To be added to the waiting list for this course or for further information contact:

Jenny at jenny@artsuplift.co.uk or phone 07946 585978

Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund

Previous creative writing from past courses are HERE

Course Tutor Martin Riley

SONG-WRITING FOR WELLBEING 

Song Writing for Wellbeing is part of our Inside Stories programme.

Sessions are led by an experienced musician Martin Riley plus an Arts Uplift volunteer in a supportive group setting.

You will learn how to express your feelings and thoughts through music.

No experience is necessary. 

Suitable for people with low mood and low to moderate mental health issues. 

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand and discuss song structure and writing practices.
• Contribute to songwriting through lyrics or music
• Discover how to craft compelling songs.
• Explore how songwriting can enhance personal well-being.
• Learn basic computer sequencing, track layering, and rhythm selection.
• Discover ways to perform and share songs.
• Connect with others and build peer support.

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For further information contact:

Beth info@artsuplift.co.uk or call Beth on 01926 504 212

Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and Rugby Group Benevolent fund.

Previous Inside Stories 4 songs:

Good Will to All:

Give Again Today:

Inside Stories – creative courses for wellbeing are delivered in partnership with the Recovery & Wellbeing Academy from March to December 2024.

These are weekly evening workshops and monthly online sessions for people looking to find ways of improving their mental wellbeing. They are suitable for people with low mood and low to moderate mental health issues.

Inside Stories sessions have been funded by the following organisations:

• Song Writing – Community Fund and Rugby Benevolent Fund
• Singing for Wellbeing – Community Fund and Royal Leamington Spa Town Council
• Creative Writing – Community Fund